Fic: Graile 4A

[Jack Xavier Warriner <connor_macbeth@xxxxxxxxx>]

Graile 4
By: MacBeth
Disclaimers: I own nothing but J, A, L, and G.


Manhattan, 1996	

The shadow atop Newlander's nightclub watched an
outlandishly dressed young man as he
sauntered across the street towards an alleyway. He
watched as the man held a conversation
with a street bum, and stood unmoving as they walked
towards a hot dog vendor. "So it
begins..." he whispered to the wind before he dropped
silently down to follow them, grinning a
half grin. ?This is gonna be good..."

*	*	*

Sunnydale, California
9:35 p.m

Buffy and Jack walked along Revello Drive in a
companionable silence. Buffy finally couldn?t
help herself. ?So what really brings you here from The
City?? she asked mimicing parenthesis
with her hands.
Jack smiled. ?There?s a steel sarcophagus buried in
a Mausoleum in one of the cemeteries
here. I?m here to find it, bring it back to New York,
and sanctify the remains within.? he said
with nearly tangible sincerity.
Buffy shook her head softly. ?You came here to get
a large metal object and carry it back to
New York in your convertable? Try again.?
?I wanted to see this hot little redhead you wrote
me about?? he said, nudging her with his
elbow.
?Cute. but no.? she said holding up two fingers.
?Strike two.?
Jack sighed as they reached Buffy?s porch.
?Alright. I?m hunting a vampire. A specific
vampire, and there is no way in Hell that you?re going
to help.? he stated and leaned against the
railing. 
Buffy stepped right up to Jack and looked him dead
in the eye. ?You helped me with Ord.
You?ve served as my sounding board and helped with
some of my serious inner battles.? she
grabbed the lapels of his black silk shirt and pulled
him down close. ?I owe you. So what makes
you think you can stop me from helping?? She finished,
daring him to argue.
The front door opened suddenly and Joyce
immediately glared at her daughter. Buffy
practically jumped back from Jack. ?Most teenagers
usually make out in private and out of sight
of their parents. Not on the front porch in full view
of neighbors.? Joyce stated before moving
out of the doorway and gesturing them both in. ?Please
come in young man, so I can embarass
my daughter even more. Mr....??
Jack smiled his half grin. ?Jack. Jack Covington.
I?m an old friend of Buffy?s from Hemry. I
was in town to pick up an antique for my store in New
York City. So I figured I would stop
and rehash old times.?
Buffy mouthed the word ?rehash? questioningly which
Jack ignored. Joyce perked up slightly.
?Your store? you work in an antique store?? she moved
the two into the living room and sat in a
chair as Jack settled on the couch opposite the young
Slayer.
?No, I own it. It?s called Time and Again. I travel
everywhere searching for antiques and
relics to stock my shelves. I?m here to find a
painting by Moshain. I heard a gallery here
possessed it.? he answered her casually.
Buffy yawned obnoxiously, dropped onto the couch
and stretched. Joyce?s eyes bugged
slightly. ?My gallery has that painting. I spoke on
the phone with someone over it. A very polite
man by the name of Lucas.?
Buffy?s eyebrows narrowed with a sudden thought
then shook her head and dismissed it. She
looked up into Jack?s eyes as he subtly nodded. ?That
was Lucius. He?s in charge of the paper
work. I just find the goodies and bring them back.?
Buffy gave him the ?We need to talk? look
and headed to the kitchen for a coke. 
Over the next two hours, Joyce gave Jack a tour of
their house, with a scathing narration by
Buffy during the first half until her Mother glared
and banished her to the kitchen. Jack gave
Joyce a great deal of information on many pieces of
her antique collection. Eventually, they
slipped back into the livingroom after flipping
through Joyce?s Record collection to find Buffy in
a very deep sleep on the sofa. ?I guess we left her
alone too long.? Joyce whispered to the
charming young man. ?Come on. we can talk in the
kitchen.? they moved quietly into the kitchen
and Joyce prepped a pot of tea on the stove. Jack
leaned against the counter and crossed his
arms over his chest. ?How long have you and Buffy been
dating?? she asked completely calmly.
Jack snapped his head to the left to look at Joyce
in bewilderment. ?I assure you Mrs.
Summers. Buffy and I are NOT intimate. If we were I
would have stated so earlier this
evening.? he said with a sincere smile. ?I?m just
someone B trusts.? they drank their tea in
companionable silence.
Joyce accepted his answer with a nod after a moment
of thought. ?I?m sorry. I?m a parent,
I?m supposed to be overprotective.? She looked up at
the clock on the wall. ?Is it that late
already? I?m sorry if I?ve kept you here later than
you expected Jack.?
Jack grinned and set his tea mug in the sin after
washing it out. ?I enjoyed tonight. Buffy never
told me about your collection. It?s
rather...esoteric.? Joyce blushed slightly.
?Thank you. Um, do you have a place to stay in
town?? Joyce asked as they made their wya
back to the front door. 
?I?m staying at something that vaguely resembles a
motel by the interstate. It?s... habitable.
Barely.? he said with a shrug. ?I?ve lived in worse
for longer.?
Joyce started shaking her head halfway through his
answer. ?I know the place. You?re going
to go back, get your things, and camp out here. The
couch is comfier. Don?t bother arguing. I?m
a Mom.?
Jack slumped his shoulders in defeat. ?There?s no
arguing with a protective Mother.?
?Words to live by.? Joyce grinned.

Macbeth
The Kamikazi Scotsman,
The Kilted Moogle



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